OT-The Lion Sleeps... - ThinnerTimes

Eseret · 06-23-2007, 03:56 PM

Some here may be a little young to know of "wimowehs". Watched him on a PBS special recently.
Teri

The Lion Sleeps Tonight' Singer Dies

Hank Medress, whose vocals with the doo wop group the Tokens helped propel their irrepressible single "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" to the top of the charts and who produced hits with other groups, has died of lung cancer. He was 68.
Medress died Monday at his Manhattan home, relatives said.
He was a teenager at Brooklyn's Lincoln High School when he launched his vocal quartet in 1955 with Neil Sedaka, performing as the Linc-Tones. When Sedaka departed for a successful solo career, lead singer Jay Siegel joined brothers Mitch and Phil Margo and Medress to become the Tokens.
It wasn't until 1961 that the group scored its singular smash, its hypnotic "Wimowehs" derived from a traditional Zulu melody. The Weavers had made the song a folk staple in the '50s, but the Tokens brought their version to No. 1 on the pop charts.
The band had other minor Top 40 hits, including "I Hear the Trumpets Blow" in 1966 and "Portrait of My Love" in 1967 _ but never recaptured the success of its enduring single.
Medress would return to the charts, though, when the Tokens landed a production deal. The all-girl vocal group the Chiffons benefited from his studio touch with the classic '60s singles "He's So Fine" and "One Fine Day."
After splitting with the Tokens in the 1970s, Medress worked with a record company executive named Tony Orlando, persuading him to handle vocals on "Knock Three Times" _ a move that catapulted the song into pop history. Medress and production partner Dave Appell also produced the Orlando and Dawn hit "Candida."
In the 1980s, Medress helped former New York Dolls lead singer David Johansen reinvent himself as lounge lizard hipster Buster Poindexter, producing his debut album and the single "Hot, Hot, Hot."
From 1990-92, he served as president of EMI Music Publishing Canada. More recently, he worked as a consultant to Sound Exchange, a nonprofit group helping musicians collect royalties.
He was survived by four children and two grandchildren.

Baron Patrick · 06-23-2007, 07:36 PM

I read that this afternoon. One of my favorite songs - it's sad all the greats are getting up there in years or leaving us.

I was watching the Today Show, and they had a segment on the Summer of Love - 1967, complete with a retro 60's fashion show! I even had some of those clothes growing up. To add to that, they also had Jefferson Airplane/Starship on and played a few of their "oldies", I didn't even recognize a couple of them. I remember a lot of that in spite of being 10 at the time. It's funny, I was at Disneyland with our son yesterday and we were discussing the day the hippies took over Tom Sawyer Island!

Eseret, you were around 17, I'm sure you have some great memories! Just think, the Rolling Stones are all in their 60's (of the original band) and they STILL rock like they did in the 1960's! Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire" brings back memories - and was SO true!

I just looked them up, do you believe:

Keith Richards - Age 66
Mick Jagger - Age 63
Charlie Watts - Age 63

sdgrrl · 06-23-2007, 08:09 PM

I still mourn the passing of Jerry Garcia, who died nearly 12 years ago. He was the heart and soul of the Grateful Dead, the consumate hippy "acid rock" band. I can work up a good cry just hearing one of their songs.

You know what else blows me away? How badly celebrities lie about their ages! Whoopi Goldberg, aka Karen Anderson (!) is really 59 years old, and her age goes down every year. She has been younger than me (53) for the last 5 years. The year that she hit 50, she made a big deal about turning 40!! Whooooooooopi....

There's a whole bunch of other stars who think I don't remember them being older than me when we were all younger. What happened to being older and wiser?

Eseret · 06-23-2007, 11:37 PM

The music of the late 50's, 60's, 70's and part of the 80's have wonderful memories for me. In my mind I can hear all of the old songs sung by my favorite singers. Little Anthony and the Imperials still rock my heart...Mel Carter, Lou Christie, and later singers such as Streisand, Manilow (yes, I like him) Diamond, and Jane Olivor to name a few. (songs I remember, names I don't!)

Do I like any of the current singers? I honestly can't tell you if I do or not. I'm hearing-impaired....can't hear music...just the beat (vibrations)

But don't feel sad for me...I have tons of songs to remember....and watching the specials on PBS (close-captioned) helps relive those days.

Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way"

CeeCee · 06-24-2007, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eseret

The music of the late 50's, 60's, 70's and part of the 80's have wonderful memories for me. In my mind I can hear all of the old songs sung by my favorite singers. Little Anthony and the Imperials still rock my heart...Mel Carter, Lou Christie, and later singers such as Streisand, Manilow (yes, I like him) Diamond, and Jane Olivor to name a few. (songs I remember, names I don't!)

Do I like any of the current singers? I honestly can't tell you if I do or not. I'm hearing-impaired....can't hear music...just the beat (vibrations)

But don't feel sad for me...I have tons of songs to remember....and watching the specials on PBS (close-captioned) helps relive those days.

Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way"

You know, so many of the new, young singers don't impress me now. I probably have too much of a classical background, but if you need a whole boatload of electronics to make your sound, or even be heard past the front row, I'm not impressed. Lyrics seema bit too frothy for me. So, what do I listen to now? I've migrated to country! The voices have substance, as do the lyrics. (Well, most of 'em. Ticks isn't something written by Puccini!). I find it very interesting that country singers are winning TV competitions, and "Opera Man" just blew them away in jolly, old England.
Baron's right, so many of the good ones are gone, and the rest are getting up there. I'll confess here too that I miss the Rat Pack.

Eseret · 06-24-2007, 05:18 AM

I was brought up with all kinds of music from the day my parents brought me home from the hospital. Story goes that I was crying and my Dad put my bassinet in front of a radio and I fell asleep right away. That stuck with me for 18 years...I fell asleep each night with music playing.

Yes, I enjoyed country for a long time...Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Barbara Mandrell, Krystal Gayle, to name a few. My Dad listened to Mario Lanza, Jeanette MacDonald, and many others.

Music will never be the same from our youths just as it will never be the same for out parents youths. It's too bad the kids now don't have "real" music.
(Guess they said that about Elvis too!)

Gotta get some sleep....been up all night...

Teri

Baron Patrick · 06-25-2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdgrrl

I still mourn the passing of Jerry Garcia, who died nearly 12 years ago. He was the heart and soul of the Grateful Dead, the consumate hippy "acid rock" band. I can work up a good cry just hearing one of their songs.

You know what else blows me away? How badly celebrities lie about their ages! Whoopi Goldberg, aka Karen Anderson (!) is really 59 years old, and her age goes down every year. She has been younger than me (53) for the last 5 years. The year that she hit 50, she made a big deal about turning 40!! Whooooooooopi....

There's a whole bunch of other stars who think I don't remember them being older than me when we were all younger. What happened to being older and wiser?

It's been 12 years since Jerry died?

My God, where has the time gone?

Someone needs to write an update to the song "American Pie."

sdgrrl · 06-25-2007, 12:30 PM

August 10, 1995. The end of an era.